Hopkins County Commissioners Court made short work of the regular meeting agenda Monday, approving a pneumatic roller, final plat for a new subdivision and a racial profiling report from the sheriff’s office.
Caney Creek Subdivision
For the first time since the county updated the subdivision rules, a final plat for a new subdivision Precinct 1 has been approved for Hopkins County.
Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley and Designated Representative/Inspector Kristy Springfield, Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker, County Clerk Tracy Smith and staff have all met with the two contractors and representatives for the Caney Creek Addition as required. The Commissioners Court also met with project representatives during a recent work session.
The 31.49 acres will include four tracts around a cell phone tower, and 11 additional tracts around those four. The area already has fiber optics lines which will allow for high speed internet.
Barker, Endsley and Smith reported that all of the required paperwork and stipulations are in order: including tax certificates, have paid initial fees, have their on-site inspection for sewage facility, architects letter and water supply, officials noted.
Shawn Massey was out of town, but Brian Coleman, representative for Caney Creek Addition, was on hand in court during the 9 a.m. session March 8 should there be any further questions from county officials regarding the planned new subdivision.
Fifteen homes with estimated values of $150,000 to $200,000 are planned to be constructed. A road would be accessed from FM 1567 in Arbala, then loop in a circle through the subdivision and back out.
“This will actually be a private road until it is complete and they if they also choose to take it in. So they’re going to leave a good base down what your recommendation was for the plat per subdivision rules,” Ensley said.
“And they understand what road materials we use, the final result before we will even consider taking it to our road inventory?” Barker asked.
“Yes, sir. They actually want to hire their own road engineer to make sure the road is up to the county’s spec on the subdivision rules during the whole process. They’ve actually already started the road to a degree out there. It’s there land going to it at this point,” Endsley said.
Other Business
Hopkins County Commissioners Court last Monday, March 1 tabled potential equipment purchase for Precinct 1, at Barker’s request to allow county officials additional time to evaluate the matter and make sure all the paperwork was in order. At Monday’s March 8 meeting, the Commissioners Court removed the measure from the table, then gave approval for Barker to purchase of a 2019 Volvo Pneumatic Roller for Precinct 1.
The roller will be purchased from Romco Equipment Company through Buyboard. The cost for the purchase will be $64,860. Because the equipment is being purchased through Buyboard, the county is not required to go out for bids for the project, County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook reported. She anticipates a request being made to the court at the next court meeting for financing of the pneumatic roller for a 5-year period.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tanner Crump presented for the official record the department’s annual racial profiling reports.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley commended the sheriff’s office employees. HCSO officers made 5,188 traffic stops and had no racial profiling complaints in 2020.
Barker noted that NETEX (Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation District) is in the process of working with Beth Wisenbaker to apply to FEMA for grant funding to help with the cost of damages to the railroad right of way for some bridges damaged by the winter storms and rains. Carrier Freedom Rail Group is working with Wisenbaker on behalf of the county, as the county owns the right of way.
The Precinct 1 Commissioner also reported the county received a pickup from the sheriff’s office and will be turning in one truck.
The court approved payment of bills, revenues and expenses, payroll and financial statements as presented; and the consent agenda which included minutes of four regular meetings, one special session, and eight work sessions.
Work Sessions
Hopkins County Commissioners Court, after adjourning the regular court session Monday, moved to the Meeting Room on the third floor of the courthouse to begin one of two work sessions slated Monday. During the morning session, the court was slated to meet with both fire department and sheriff’s office personnel to discuss operations and to review any revenues and expenditures, and any proposed improvement or repairs for each department. They also were slated to meet with Jake Battenfield of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP. A preliminary plat for “The Anna Lake Estates” and budget work session were also on the Monday morning agenda.
The Court is also slated to hold a work session at 6 p.m. Monday, March 8 with the county’s volunteer fire department officers in the emergency operation center/ training room at Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center (Sheriff’s Office), 298 Rosemont Street.
